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21 王的心在耶和华手中像河水,
他能使它随意流转。
人一切所行的,在自己眼中看为正直,
惟有耶和华衡量人心。
行公义和公平
比献祭更蒙耶和华悦纳。
眼高心傲,就是恶人的灯,
都是罪。
殷勤筹划的,足致丰裕;
行事急躁的,必致缺乏。
用诡诈之舌所得的财富
如被吹散的雾气,趋向灭亡[a]
恶人的残暴必扫去自己,
因他们不肯按公平行事。
有罪的人其路弯曲;
纯洁的人行为正直。
宁可住在房顶的一角,
也不与好争吵的妇人同住。
10 恶人的心渴想邪恶,
他的眼并不怜悯邻舍。
11 傲慢人受惩罚,愚蒙人可得智慧;
智慧人受训诲,便得知识。
12 公义的 神[b]鉴察恶人的家,
他倾覆恶人,以致灭亡。
13 塞耳不听贫寒人哀求的,
他自己呼求,也不蒙应允。
14 暗中送的礼物挽回怒气,
怀里的贿赂能止息暴怒。
15 秉公行义使义人喜乐,
却使作恶的人败坏。
16 人偏离智慧的路,
必与阴魂为伍[c]
17 爱宴乐的,必致穷乏;
贪爱酒和油的,必不富足。
18 恶人作义人的赎价,
奸诈人代替正直人。
19 宁可住在旷野之地,
也不与争吵易怒的妇人同住。
20 智慧人的居所积蓄宝物与膏油[d]
愚昧人却挥霍一空。
21 追求公义慈爱的,
就寻得生命、公义[e]和尊荣。
22 智慧人爬上勇士的城墙,
摧毁他所倚靠的堡垒。
23 谨守口和舌的,
就保护自己免受灾难。
24 心骄气傲的人名叫傲慢,
他行事出于狂妄骄傲。
25 懒惰人的欲望害死自己,
因为他的手不肯做工;
26 有人终日贪得无餍,
义人却施舍而不吝惜。
27 恶人献的祭是可憎的,
何况他存恶意来献呢?
28 不实的见证必消灭;
惟聆听真情的,他的证词有力。
29 恶人脸无羞耻;
正直人行事坚定[f]
30 没有人能以智慧、聪明、
谋略抵挡耶和华。
31 马是为打仗之日预备的;
得胜却在于耶和华。

Footnotes

  1. 21.6 “趋向灭亡”:有古卷、七十士译本和其他古译本是“和死亡的圈套”。
  2. 21.12 “公义的 神”或译“义人”。
  3. 21.16 “必与阴魂为伍”:原文是“必住在阴魂的会中”。
  4. 21.20 “智慧人…膏油”:七十士译本是“渴慕的宝物留在智慧人的嘴上”。
  5. 21.21 七十士译本没有“公义”。
  6. 21.29 “正直人行事坚定”:原文另译“正直人明白己道”。

21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.(A)

A person may think their own ways are right,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.(B)

To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(C)

Haughty eyes(D) and a proud heart—
    the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

The plans of the diligent lead to profit(E)
    as surely as haste leads to poverty.

A fortune made by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[a](F)

The violence of the wicked will drag them away,(G)
    for they refuse to do what is right.

The way of the guilty is devious,(H)
    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

Better to live on a corner of the roof
    than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.(I)

10 The wicked crave evil;
    their neighbors get no mercy from them.

11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
    by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.(J)

12 The Righteous One[b] takes note of the house of the wicked
    and brings the wicked to ruin.(K)

13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out(L) and not be answered.(M)

14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,
    and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.(N)

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
    but terror to evildoers.(O)

16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence
    comes to rest in the company of the dead.(P)

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.(Q)

18 The wicked become a ransom(R) for the righteous,
    and the unfaithful for the upright.

19 Better to live in a desert
    than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.(S)

20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
    but fools gulp theirs down.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love
    finds life, prosperity[c](T) and honor.(U)

22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty(V)
    and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 Those who guard their mouths(W) and their tongues
    keep themselves from calamity.(X)

24 The proud and arrogant person(Y)—“Mocker” is his name—
    behaves with insolent fury.

25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,(Z)
    because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
    but the righteous(AA) give without sparing.(AB)

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable(AC)
    how much more so when brought with evil intent!(AD)

28 A false witness(AE) will perish,(AF)
    but a careful listener will testify successfully.

29 The wicked put up a bold front,
    but the upright give thought to their ways.(AG)

30 There is no wisdom,(AH) no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.(AI)

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but victory rests with the Lord.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
  2. Proverbs 21:12 Or The righteous person
  3. Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness

The Lord Considers the Heart

21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,
Like the [a]rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.

(A)Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
(B)But the Lord weighs the hearts.

(C)To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

(D)A haughty look, a proud heart,
And the [b]plowing of the wicked are sin.

(E)The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

(F)Getting treasures by a lying tongue
[c]Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.

The violence of the wicked will [d]destroy them,
Because they refuse to do justice.

The way of [e]a guilty man is perverse;
But as for the pure, his work is right.

Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with (G)a contentious woman.

10 (H)The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;
But when the (I)wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked,
Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.

13 (J)Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be heard.

14 A gift in secret pacifies anger,
And a bribe [f]behind the back, strong wrath.

15 It is a joy for the just to do justice,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding
Will rest in the assembly of the (K)dead.

17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,
And the unfaithful for the upright.

19 Better to dwell [g]in the wilderness,
Than with a contentious and angry woman.

20 (L)There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it.

21 (M)He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.

22 A (N)wise man [h]scales the city of the mighty,
And brings down the trusted stronghold.

23 (O)Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.

24 A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name;
He acts with arrogant pride.

25 The (P)desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.
26 He covets greedily all day long,
But the righteous (Q)gives and does not spare.

27 (R)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!

28 A false witness shall perish,
But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.

29 A wicked man hardens his face,
But as for the upright, he [i]establishes his way.

30 (S)There is no wisdom or understanding
Or counsel against the Lord.

31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But (T)deliverance is of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:1 channels
  2. Proverbs 21:4 Or lamp
  3. Proverbs 21:6 LXX Pursue vanity on the snares of death; Vg. Is vain and foolish, and shall stumble on the snares of death; Tg. They shall be destroyed, and they shall fall who seek death
  4. Proverbs 21:7 Lit. drag them away
  5. Proverbs 21:8 Or The way of a man is perverse and strange;
  6. Proverbs 21:14 Under cover, lit. in the bosom
  7. Proverbs 21:19 Lit. in the land of the desert
  8. Proverbs 21:22 Climbs over the walls of
  9. Proverbs 21:29 Qr., LXX understands